Newsletter

It's who you know, not who you see

I don’t get out much, but the holidays sort of change that. I’ve made more trips to the stores or the mall in recent weeks than I’ve made in months.

When you go out more, there’s more of a chance you’ll run into somebody you know.

That can be a problem.

You see, I don’t wear my glasses when I’m out. I’ll wear them at home to read, or to drive, particularly at night. But not when I’m out walking around.

It messes up my peripheral vision or something and I’m more comfortable just squinting.

I can get by, but the challenge is that I keep seeing people I think I know. I’ll nod or wave and walk toward them ... and within a few feet realize they are utter, complete strangers looking at me with a mixture of puzzlement and alarm.

“Sorry,” I’ll say, pointing to my squinting eyes, and we both hurry away in opposite directions.

I know this is a common problem because it happens to me, too.

People walk up and say, “Steve!” (Yes, apparently I look like some guy named Steve.)

“No ...”, I’ll reply with some friendliness. “I’m not Steve.” And we both sort of laugh, and I’ll add, “but he must be pretty good-looking.”

And we’ll laugh some more and both hurry away in opposite directions.

I say all that to say this: Christmas is a season when you’ll interact with more people than any other time of year. Be patient.

Christmas is a season of forgiveness and understanding. Exercise both.

Finally, Christmas is a season when you shouldn’t hesitate to share holiday greetings, even if we might be wrong, even if you don’t know the person.

“Merry Christmas, Steve.”

THANK YOU: Once again the Grovetown Lions Club was generous in presenting an impressive donation to the Empty Stocking Fund.

I went out to their turkey shoot off Old Louisville Road on Friday night for the gift presentation. The company was warm and the stars on a clear December night out in the country were impressive.

TODAY’S CHRISTMAS JOKE: Everett Fernadez shares this one:

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, but males drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.

Female reindeer, however, retain their antlers ’til they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa’s reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolf to Blitzen ... had to be a female.

We should have known this when they were able to find their way, without a GPS!